‘Affordable’ housing
18th April 2018
For a long time the term ‘affordable housing’ has been an anathema; it’s used in political, planning and development circles to persuade the populace that the housing crisis is being dealt with. When the average household income is in the region of £23k, and the average house price is ten times that, we fail to see how anyone in a low-income position can secure themselves a safe and adequate home. When we bought our first house the rule of thumb [...]
Success in Chimbiya
10th April 2018
We have just returned from our trip to Malawi with St Peters Malawi Education Trust; we’ve had an eye-opening time. The building team spent 5 hard, hot days in the sun and successfully completed the construction of seven classrooms ahead of time. The frames went up well and were completed with roofs in the nick of time, as the heavens opened the moment we officially handed over the project. All 900 pupils, families and building team were [...]
Architect abroad
10th January 2018
Busy planning for our trip to Malawi at Easter, not pencils but tools in our hands for a change (is that wise?). Plans underway, materials ordered, so many vaccinations our arms feel like pin-cushions… we’re looking forward to our trip to help build seven new classrooms in seven days with St Peters Malawi Education Trust. Watch this space for more news. Please bear with us while we are closed from mid-March for three weeks.
End of Year 2016-17
30th November 2017
We’ve had another busy year full of exciting projects including building on previous ‘firsts’ for the office. Following on from the completion last year of a new loo for Clyst Honiton Church, we are currently building one in Honiton Baptist Church, have design similar for Pinhoe Church Office, and are discussing initial briefs for re-ordering Rockbeare Church to include flexible community spaces, a kitchen and… another loo. It seems we are getting a reputation for Church washrooms! Most recently, home [...]
Coast to Coast: done!
14th October 2017
This month we completed our Coast to Coast run for St Peters Malawi Education Trust. We had a fabulous time running 117 miles from Wembury to Lynmouth in great company. We’ve raised nearly £3,500 for the charity to put towards its ‘Seven classrooms in seven days’ project for March 2018, when we’ll also be travelling out there to help build this vital primary school accommodation. Thank-you to all who have supported us so far, you have been very generous.
Running Coast to Coast
23rd September 2017
On 27th Sept we will be starting a 117m run from Wembury to Lynmouth, across Devon over Dartmoor and Exmoor, to raise funds for St Peters Malawi Education Trust. We’ll be running close to a marathon each day, over mixed terrain including all the best boggy bits of Dartmoor and hilliest bits of the county. Sean will be running with a small group of fellow runners on this self-led challenge. Much beer and potatoes will be required along the route. [...]
Chedworth visit
24th August 2017
Impressed on a holiday visit to Chedworth Roman Villa (Cotswolds), by their visitor centre, an elegant shroud protecting some lovely mosaics and hypocaust remains, as well as providing interpretation spaces. A deceptively simple building form and strategy, rigorously detailed and carefully executed.
Running Coast to Coast
31st July 2017
If you know me even a little, you probably know I run a bit; I’ll be running a lot more this September.
This year we have become involved with a charity called St Peter’s Malawi Education Trust, which has arisen from a long-term relationship that a local school (St Peter’s) has developed with a community in central Malawi. They have made many visits with schoolchildren to the Kasungu district, becoming involved in secondary and primary schools and a hospital [...]
Summer holidays
28th July 2017
Please note that the office will be closed from 18th August to 1st Sept incl. We will deal with all messages and correspondence left as soon as we are able on our return. We’ll be off to run some hills and swim some lakes, not to mention finding a local brewery or two. Whatever your plans, have a great time and we’ll see you when we get back.
High industry demand
7th July 2017
Recent research carried out by the Federation of Master Builders and reported here by PBC Today, confirm our recent experience in the market place. It is not unusual for builders to need at least a month lead-in time to commence work after an instruction; however at the moment we are finding this can be several months, some even reporting a full order book for the next 6-9 months. This is great news for our regular builders who are in [...]